Tone Words and Definitions

Tone is more than merely an author’s attitude toward his/her audience and characters; it is the stylistic
means by which an author conveys his/her attitude(s) in a work of literature.
Tone is an integral part of a work’s meaning because it controls the reader’s response which is essential
to fully experiencing literature. To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning.
In order to recognize tonal shift and to interpret complexities of tone, the reader must be able to make
inferences based on an active reading of the work. The author's tone or voice is revealed by
organization, choice of detail, and sentence structure, but word choice is probably the strongest
indicator of tone.
Directions: Familiarize yourself with the denotations and connotations of the following tone words. This
is by no means a comprehensive list! You should also practice utilizing adjective and adverb forms of
each word:
adjective: Leo uses a mocking tone when he describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius.
adverb: Leo mockingly describes Mrs. Bilse as a literary genius.

1. Abstruse: difficult to understand

2. Ambiguous: open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations
3. Fervent: having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent
4. Flippant: frivolously disrespectful, shallow, or lacking in seriousness
5. Ambivalent: having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone;
indecisive; being uncertain about how you feel
6. Antagonistic: acting in opposition; opposing, especially mutually; hostile; unfriendly
7. Apathetic: having or showing little or no emotion; not interested or concerned; indifferent or
unresponsive
8. Apprehensive: uneasy or fearful about something that might happen
9. Approving: to speak or think favorably of; pronounce or consider agreeable or good; judge
favorably
10. Derogatory: tending to lessen the merit or reputation of a person or thing; disparaging;
belittling
11. Introspective: given to examining own sensory and perceptual experiences; thoughtful; self-
reflective
12. Ironic: containing or exemplifying irony/ coincidental; unexpected
13. Irascible: easily provoked to anger; very irritable
14. Detached: impartial or objective; disinterested; unbiased/ not involved or concerned; aloof
15. Diabolic: having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked
16. Ardent: characterized by intense feeling; passionate; fervent; intensely devoted, eager, or
enthusiastic; zealous;
17. Arrogant: making claims or pretensions to superior importance or rights; insolently proud
18. Audacious: extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless
19. Clinical: extremely objective and realistic; unemotionally critical; detached
20. Condemnatory: To express strong disapproval
21. Reminiscent: awakening memories of something similar; suggestive
22. Reverent: deeply respectful; showing great esteem
23. Sanguine: cheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident
24. Sarcastic: expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds
25. Condescending: showing or implying a usually patronizing descent from dignity or superiority;
superior; snobbish
26. Curt: rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner; brief; concise; terse;
27. Cynical: scornful of the motives or virtues of others; bitterly or sneeringly distrustful,
contemptuous, or pessimistic
28. Diffident: lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy
29. Incisive: penetrating; cutting; biting; remarkably clear and direct; sharp; keen; acute
30. Incredulous: not credulous; disinclined or indisposed to believe; skeptical
31. Dogmatic: opinionated; asserting opinions in an arrogant manner
32. Dubious: wavering or hesitating in opinion; inclined to doubt
33. Earnest: serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous
34. Elegiac: expressing sorrow or lamentation; gloomy; mournful
35. Erudite: characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly
36. Forthright: going straight to the point; frank; direct; outspoken
37. Histrionic: Over the top dramatic; melodramatic; exaggerated
38. Holier-than-thou: obnoxiously pious; sanctimonious; self-righteous
39. Impassive: without emotion; apathetic; unmoved; calm; serene
40. Caustic: making biting, corrosive comments
41. Celebratory: feeling or expressing happiness and pride.
42. Censorious: severely critical; faultfinding
43. Impertinent: insolently rude; uncivil
44. Indifferent: without interest or concern; not caring; apathetic/ having no bias, prejudice, or
preference; impartial; disinterested
45. Indignant: feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered
unjust, offensive, insulting, or base
46. Conceited: having an excessively favorable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.
47. Conciliatory: To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease
48. Critical: inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily
49. Inflammatory: tending to arouse anger, hostility, passion, etc.
50. Instructive: conveying instruction, knowledge, or information; enlightening; didactic
51. Irreverent: showing lack of due respect or veneration
52. Jovial: characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship; cheerful; good-
humored
53. Laudatory: containing or expressing praise and commendation; congratulatory
54. Lugubrious: mournful, dismal, or gloomy, esp. in an affected, exaggerated, or unrelieved
manner; melancholic
55. Meditative: deeply or seriously thoughtful
56. Modest: having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.;
free from egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions
57. Nostalgic: unhappy about being away and longing for familiar things or persons
58. Optimistic: to expect the most favorable outcome; hopeful and confident in the future
(antonym; pessimistic)
59. Penitent: feeling or expressing sorrow for sin or wrongdoing; repentant; contrite
60. Pompous: characterized by an ostentatious display of dignity or importance; pretentious; self-
important
61. Reassuring: to restore to assurance or confidence
62. Sardonic: characterized by bitter or scornful ridicule; mocking; cynical; sneering
63. Satiric (satirical): exposing human folly to ridicule
64. Sinister: threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous
65. Skeptical: Marked by or given to doubt; questioning